Comparison: 2012 BMW 335i vs. Mercedes C 300

With the headlights and kidney-shaped grille connected, the 2012 BMW 335i has a wide and sporty look.

PHOTO: Kevin Mio, The Gazette

2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

Mercedes-Benz

At the back, the 2012 BMW 335i features large wraparound tail lights and dual exhaust pipes.

PHOTO: Kevin Mio, The Gazette

The 2012 BMW 335i’s new design was overseen by Karim Habib, who grew up in Montreal.

PHOTO: Kevin Mio, The Gazette

By Kevin Mio, The Gazette

Originally published: July 27, 2012

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MEDIUM

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There is a Montreal connection to the redesigned BMW 3 Series, which arrived in showrooms this year.

That is because Karim Habib, who grew up in the city after moving to Canada from Lebanon at age 10, oversaw the exterior design of the 3 Series, including the 335i I recently tested.

Habib, who is now BMW’s design chief, spoke with pride about the new 3 Series when it made its Canadian debut at the Montreal International Auto Show in January.

After a week with the top tier version of the model, it is easy to understand why.

Decked out in a Melbourne red metallic colour, I had a chance to drive around town in style for a week, thoroughly enjoying the 335i sedan’s looks, comfort and its performance attributes.

The base 320i has a starting price of $35,900, while the 328i goes for $43,600 before options.

With the top-of-the-line 335i, the base price is $51,200, for which you get a pretty complete vehicle.

Options on the tester pushed the final price to $62,100. They included $4,500 for premium package that added an alarm system, rear-view camera, comfort access, auto-dimming exterior mirrors, lumbar support, park distance control (rear), BMW on-board navigation and a top-notch Harmon/Kardon sound system.

The $800 driver assistance package (lane departure system and active blind spot detection) is a worthwhile addition, as is the surround view system ($900) and the heads-up display ($1,500).

Design

Habib told me during an interview that the redesigned 3 Series was the result of three years of work by a team of designers, and I have to say that the end result really appeals to me.

I especially liked the new front design, which features headlights that seem connected to the iconic kidney-shaped grille design. The outcome provides a sporty look and a vehicle that appears wider than it really is.

A subtle rising accent line that runs the length of the body enhances that athletic feel, and the back end is highlighted by large wraparound tail lights.

Inside, the 335i is traditional BMW styling. That is to say, comfortable, well put together and elegant all at once.

The materials, as well as fit and finish, were superior in the cabin, with the leather seats making the week that much more enjoyable.

With the majority of functions controlled through the iDrive system, the number of buttons on the dash is kept to a minimum.

My only issue is that the display screen protrudes vertically from the top of the centre stack, sometimes cutting into visibility out the front of the car depending on your angle.

Performance

While the 335i’s design is quite the eye-catcher, where this machine really shines is on the road – preferably the open road with no traffic or orange cones getting in the way.

Under the sleek red hood rests a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder TwinPower Turbo engine that waits to be awakened. It puts 300 horsepower and 300 foot-pounds of torque at the driver’s disposal, plenty of power to impress.

Depress the clutch on the six-speed manual transmission and hit the ignition button, and the engine rumbles to life with just the right tone emanating from its dual-exhaust pipes.

While the rumble is pleasing, getting the 335i into gear and moving through all six as you accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometres per hour in under six seconds is truly exhilarating.

Ironically, my week testing the 335i included a trip to the ICAR racetrack in Mirabel for another event, and I couldn’t help imagining how much fun this car would have been on the track.

Alas, it was not meant to be. But even on city streets and highways, the 335i still delivers plenty of driving enjoyment.

BMW says the 335i’s fuel consumption is estimated to be 9.8 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 6.5 L/100 km on the highway. I averaged 9.5 L/100 km after a week, including several trips into downtown Montreal through gridlocked rush-hour traffic.

Driving/utility

Despite being stuck in traffic a little too much for my liking, I still got to enjoy the 335i on the open road enough to truly appreciate it. Moving through the six gears of the manual transmission is a breeze, with throws that are just right. Being able to move the shifter on the rear-wheel-drive sedan with not much more than one finger is also a plus.

Inside the cabin, passengers are kept isolated from much of the outside noise – although the exhaust note will find its way in when the engine is pressed hard, but that is just fine by me.

And with 13 cubic feet of trunk space in the 335i, there is also a good amount of room to load up a few bags and head to the cottage with the family for a weekend.

Just make sure you find some twisting roads so you can really enjoy the ride. And you can thank me later.

It has been a few years since I tested a Mercedes C class, the German automaker’s entry-level luxury sedan.

With a recent spin in one of the vehicle’s chief rivals lined up, it was good timing to get into a 2012 version of the C 300 4MATIC.

Like one of its main competitors – the BMW 3 Series – the C Class underwent a makeover for 2012, albeit only a minor one in its mid-cycle. The 3 Series was a complete overhaul.

The majority of the work on the C Class has gone to improving the interior, which is now more in-line with the rest of the family from the luxury Bavarian carmaker.

The changes result in a vehicle that is far better placed to compete in that segment of the market.

There are four variants of the C Class sedan, starting with the C 250 and going all the way up to the C 63 AMG.

In between those two there is the C 350 and the C 300, which I tested. In 4MATIC guise, the C 300 has a base price of $45,200 and comes fairly well equipped, including Bluetooth, hill start control, brake drying, automatic climate control with air conditioning, heated front seats, heated windshield washer, rain-sensing windshield wipers and more.

Extras include $890 for the Palladium Silver paint, $800 for the driver assistance package, which adds passive lane-keeping assist and passive blind-spot assist.

There is also an entertainment package ($1,250) which adds a harmon/kardon surround-sound system and satellite radio. The final option is a $2,900 premium package that includes electronic compass, navigation system, parktronic with parking guidance, a panoramic sunroof, rear-view camera and an integrated garage door opener.

The options push the total price to $51,040 before freight charges and taxes.

Design

Very little has changed with regards to the exterior styling of the C Class, which is just as well because I have no issue with the look.

There were, however, some subtle exterior changes including LED daytime running lights, now embedded in the headlight assembly, and LED tail lights.

Other than that, the boxy lines and large Mercedes logo standing proud in the centre grille remain.

Inside is where most of the changes takes place, and to good effect.

Gone are the cheap-feeling coverings in the earlier version, replaced with softer and richer-feeling materials that are more befitting to a Mercedes.

Also on the C Class are new and improved gauges and bolstered seating that offers more comfort.

Performance

The C Class has four different engines, depending on which model you choose to buy.

On the C 300 4MATIC, which comes standard with a permanent all-wheel-drive system, you get a 3.0-litre V6 rated at 228 horsepower and 221 foot-pounds of torque.

That is all put to the pavement in a very efficient manner via a smooth 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission.

Those power numbers are less than what you can find from certain competitors, but you would be hard-pressed to find a major problem with this powertrain setup.

Fuel efficiency is rated at 11.8 litres per 100 kilometres (city) and 7.9 L/100 km (hwy.), but I only averaged only 12.5 L/100 km.

Of course, if you do want more power to match up against some of the competition, Mercedes offers engines that do that, too.

The larger engine in the C 350, a 3.5L V6, delivers 302 horsepower and 273 foot-pounds of torque, and the base price for that model is $50,800.

For those who feel 300 horses is not enough, the German automaker gives you the C 63 AMG, with a powerful 6.2L V8 rated at 451 horses and 443 foot-pounds of torque. The starting price on that model is $65,000.

Driving/utility

Sitting inside the revamped passenger cabin is a pleasant experience, welcomed by quality materials and a neatly designed interior.

The fact that it is whisper quiet even at highway speeds is an added bonus, with the drive quality enhanced by the automaker’s Agility Control suspension, which adjusts the damping to maintain maximum stability.

If I had one issue with the passenger cabin, it was the seating position. Maybe it’s just me, but I constantly found my right knee knocking against the corner of the centre stack, a hard plastic corner that was far from comfortable.

Perhaps it was just my seating position, but that just didn’t work well with me.

What is comfortable is the amount of cargo space in the trunk, with 16.8 cubic feet available under the lid. That is a pretty generous amount and it was able to haul almost all of the goods we bought at the bulk store to prepare for some long-weekend barbecues.

The C 300 also offers a split folding rear seat to increase that space if need be.

With almost 2,000 new parts in the 2012 C Class, Mercedes is still calling this only a facelift. One wonders what they have in store when this popular sedan is up for a complete overhaul in a few years’ time.

For now, however, it should remain a popular choice thanks to the upgrades the automaker has given it despite the increased competition.